Keene State Tops Franklin Pierce, 12-2
Stopera totals five points in Owls third victory of the season

KEENE, N.H. (April 5, 2007) – The Franklin Pierce women’s lacrosse team suffered a tough 12-2 setback to Keene State College in non-conference action this evening at the Owl Athletic Complex. The Owls registered seven first half goals and never looked back to earn their third victory of the season.

            Keene State freshman Melissa Stopera (Scotia Glenville, N.Y./Scotia) led all scorers with a game-high five points on four goals and one assist. Junior Andrea Mitchell (Bow, N.H./Bow) was also solid posting four points on three goals and one assist, while freshman Dene Tully (Peabody, Mass./Peabody) netted three goals for three points.

            Sophomore Carla Savini (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) and freshman Meghan Masterson (Sharon, Mass./Sharon) led the Franklin Pierce attack with one goal apiece, while senior Amanda Pietraszuk (Clinton, Conn./The Morgan School) chipped in with an assist.

            Keene opened the scoring early in the first half as senior Steph Georgevitis (Concord, N.H./Concord) registered her fifth goal of the season just 1:15 into the match. Mitchell gave the Owls a 2-0 lead on her first goal of the game, but Franklin Pierce rallied back with scores by Masterson and Savini to even the score at 2-2.

            With the scored tied at 2-2, Keene pieced together a five goal scoring rally to take a 7-2 advantage into halftime. Stopera lead the Owls scoring surge with three goals, while Mitchell and Tully chipped in with one score apiece.

            In the second half, Keene State registered five unanswered goals to preserve the victory. Tully and Mitchell ignited the rally with two goals apiece, while Stopera and junior Michelle Mazzotta (Cromwell, Conn./Mercy) added one score each.

            Keene State out-shot Franklin Pierce 35 to 23 in the contest. Sophomore goaltender Jen Gearing (Westfield, Mass./Westfield) collected 11 saves in the victory for the Owls, while senior goaltender Erin Hopkins (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan Academy) stopped 14 shots for the Ravens.

            Franklin Pierce (1-7, 0-3 NE-10) will be in action again tomorrow as it travels to Southern Connecticut State University at 5 p.m. Keene State College (3-3, 1-0 LEC) will host Rhode Island College on Saturday at 1 p.m.  

Keene State 12, Franklin Pierce 2

Keene State Scoring:
Goals: Melissa Stopera (4); Andrea Mitchell (3); Dene Tully (3); Steph Georgevitis (1); Michelle Mazzotta (1);
Assists: Lanaya Nelson (2); Georgevitis (1); Mitchell (1); Stopera (1);
Franklin Pierce Scoring:
Goals: Meghan Masterson (1); Carla Savini (1);
Assists: Amanda Pietraszuk (1);
Goaltending:
KSC: Jen Gearing (60:00) , 11 saves.
FPC: Erin Hopkins (60:00), 14 saves.

GAME STATISTICS AND BOX SCORE